Project description
Bio-intelligent 3D printing inspired by nature
Petroleum-based plastics and conventional 3D printing binders are hindering efforts to make manufacturing truly sustainable. At the same time, advanced additive manufacturing struggles to integrate environmentally friendly materials without compromising performance. In this context, the EU-funded BUTTERFLIES project is turning to one of nature’s most abundant biopolymers: chitin. Found in the shells of crustaceans and insects, chitin and its derivative chitosan form the basis of new bio-based binders for high-precision 3D printing techniques (binder jetting and two-photon polymerisation). By enabling complex structures from biodegradable materials, BUTTERFLIES aims to replace fossil-based inputs, paving the way for smarter, greener manufacturing systems inspired by biological processes.
Objective
BUTTERFLIES aims to drive Europe towards sustainability and technological progress through Biointelligent Manufacturing, using biological systems to create innovative production technologies. Our project will achieve these aims by addressing challenges currently preventing widespread uptake of bio-polymers in advanced additive manufacturing (AM). The BUTTERFLIES bio-inspired advancements are based on chitin, one of the most abundant bio-polymers on Earth (second only to cellulose), and applied specifically to binder jetting (BJT) and 2 photon polymerisation (2PP) AM processes.
Environmental sustainability will be achieved through chitin nanocrystal crosslinkers that bind chitin biopolymers in BJT and photocurable chitosan bio-polymer in 2PP. These approaches will offer streamlined production to replace petroleum-based plastics and non-environmentally friendly binders.
BUTTERFLIES seeks to transform and revolutionise European manufacturing and products through seamless integration of biomaterials into additive manufacturing processes. BUTTERFLIES will address the challenges associated with the processing of biomaterials such as chitin and chitosan in processes such as binder jetting (BJT) and 2 photon polymerisation (2PP).
Environmental sustainability will be achieved through low-temperature bio-based binders that will offer streamlined production to replace petroleum-based plastics and binders with chitin, the second most common biopolymer in nature.
BUTTERFLIES will focus on development of smart bioproduct and hybrid manufacturing techniques through key technology developments:
- BJT and 2PP for bio-intelligent 3D manufacturing to manufacture complex structures from biomaterials with embedded intelligence from bioprocesses and mimicry of real biological systems.
-Novel biomaterial binders
-Process design for BJ and 2PP-based 3D printing of biomaterials.
-Process scalability of the 2PP technique based on laser beam shaping and multi-beam processing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.1 - Manufacturing Technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-TWO-STAGE
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CV7 9JU Coventry
United Kingdom
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.